The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-30
PHYSICAL. TRAINING.
The Roberts System-Skstch OF the Famous
Arhsete-How He Does 1t.

Springfield Republican.
Prof. J. r. Roberts, the famous superintend-
ent of the Boston Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation gymnasium. has had a varied experience
of a most practical and useful character. Twenty
years ago. when a boy seventeen years old, ne
was first connected with the old fremont gy m
nasium at Boston. He was successfully connect
ed with the Stewart, Dio Lewis, Wlnship and
ola Union gymnasiums. He was finally engaged
instructor IL the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation gymnasium, and was put 10 charge there
about ten years ago. He was a famous oarsman,
and for a long time was believer in heavy
weight exercises Years of actual work and
study, however. have changed his theories OF
physical culture, and he now emphasizes the
Importance of light gymnastics. For htieen
ments with dumb bells which brings into active
exercise nearly every important muscle of the
body, especial attention to the muscles least
used in walking and ordinary business and those
coming in contact with and most affecting the
vital organs.
Prof. Roberts has taken excellent care of him
self and although nearly forty years old. retains
are shown by the following measurements:
Weight, l65 pounds; height, feet OF inches,
neck. 153 inches; right shoulder, 81; left shout
der, 81; circumference of shoulders, 40; chest in
fated, 10, chest unlnfiated. 80: waist, 35; nips,
49, right thigh. 23t: right calf 142; left thigh, 23
14i; left arm up. Isl; left arm down, l4s, left
forearm. IL; chest diameter, 1921; lung capacity,
270; muscles medium. So perfect his phys
ical proportions that he has repeatedly posed as
a model at art schools. and physicians in the vi
cinity of Boston recognize him as authority on
living anatomy. Besides the hundreds who have
studied with him, he has trained sixty >ss.nna,
SUM instructors. most OF whom have proved
successful teachers.
He calls MS pupils his patients" and differs
from most instructors in that he will not pay
his whole attention to a few successful perform
ers, but looks after the needs of all. 1t IS
Interesting to watch him conduct the class-driil
on the floor. Beginning with movements for
the legs, exercises follow for the shoulders, body,
arms and posterior muscles. The circulation IS
started by shoulder work. the arms being swung
at full length in front of the body and swung in
q circle from the shoulders, while the instructor
counts. The body is raised on the toes and the
toes are thrown apart, resting the foot on the
heel. More complicated movements follow with
dumb bells, including extension work, where
you stand firmly and, reaching the arms ont at
full length in front, touch the bells
to the floor Between the movements the
pupils asked to hold the hands high over the
head ITO expand the lower walls of the chest"
While it looks easy enough to hold the dumb
bells high over the head, with the knuckles for
ward, it takes effort to keep them there a
minute Breathings are practiced for the lungs,
and chopping the bells from over the shoulders
down between the legs strengthens the lons.
Each movement continues for thirty-two counts.
and the entire exercise does not last more than
thirty minutes During each movement the pro-
fessor watches his pupils closely. Ii he notices
that the work has a depressing effect upon per-
former, he calls him aside and studies into the
cause. As the class becomes familiar vita the
movements, and able to go through them with
more rapidly, and when well under way the
pupils perspre freely and finish the exercise
with the system in a glow. Graduated baths
follow, beginning with warm and ending
with cold water and a brisk rubbing down.
Every man Is carefully prepared for the exercise
by being submitted tn complete measurements
A schedule is given tho pupil, calling attention
to special work needed fill out certain defcien
cies and this work is generally taken up after
tho class drill and usually consists of movements
simple as the dunn bell exercise For those
who wish it drill on the heavy apparatus fol-
lows with exercises on the parallel bars. rings
and horizont tai bar. For good health Professor
Roberts recommends this exercise of thirty min
utes every day. and home exercises of
five or ten minutes morning and night. He ad-
vses rapid movements in rising to arouse the
system and slower movements before bedtime,
which will induce sleep. This method is IN no
sense for training professional performers or
competitive athletes, but to build up a body
which will be sound and reliable In aiding man
to perform his daily work.
For eight years Prof. Roberts studied artistic
anatomy under Prof Rlmmer and his ideals Of
physical beauty conform to the old Grecan con-
ception of symmetry. To his practced eye the
athlete with muscles standing out in striney
masses is deformed and prematurely old and
ugly. He strives to secure a delicate balancing
of the muscles, and not allow n few prominent
to Offset others and draw the body out of
shape. For instance, he will make man devel-
op his back-arm much the front, and
cure a symmetrical and we'll rounded member.
not one where the muscle is massed in front
By developing the muscles of his back and oins
he has tiled out his own chest and abdomen to
we'll rounded proportions which contrast strong
ly with the contracted waist of the ordinary ath-
lete. It took him years to learn what he can
now teach in three minutes. With patient study
and constant reference to a standard work on
anatomy, he picked out the important muscles
of his body. learned their limitations and Guilt
waited them to a high stage of perfection. With
a pair of dumb bells he would work each muscle
of the arm by peculiar movement that brought
1t into play until it was tired and then when it
became lame. he could trace its cause and dis
cover how best to bring it into action.
With all his enthusiasm and theories. how
ever, Prof Roberts is an intensely practical
man. In speaking of the so-called ''Robertss
system" of floor work, he says: II don't call it
the Roberts SYSTEM don't believe in any rigid
set of rules, for 1 am constantly learning new
things. l do not always insist my way
either. for find that my pupils are constantly
teaching me. That is the fault of the German
gymnastic system. with all its excellent quail
test is too infiexible. The turner's recognize
the defects, but the rules arc too iron-clad to
change them. They do not introduce baths
into their work. and consider that failure as
very important Then don't 60 in for fancy
movements. I believe that every exercise
must he safe, beneficial, easy, short and pleas
ing What do I think of out of door sports9
Why, believe in them fully. have just been
down on your beautiful pond at the water shops,
and hope to enjoy rowing there frequently. You
know that the most complete and perfect
else to bring the most muscles in play and at the
same time keep the body in a natural position is
breast swimming Some people think that walk
ing does as well. however. But you cannot swim
all the year around unless you have artificial
and cramped tank. and you cannot take long
walks in bad weather. You need the gymnasi-
um work to supplement out-ofd door exercise.
Look that man a bicycle He is developing
the muscles of his legs and perhaps exercises
his hips some. but see how low he bends his
shoulders down, and his arms don't get much
benefit. Let him ride his bicycle, walk and
swim. but to Keep his system in good order and
build up symmetrical and beautiful body he
needs something / don't train ath-
letes. although 1 have had abundant OPP
portunity to do L want to get hold
of children and keep their bodies in
shape. want to reach professional and business
men, who haven't much time to spare and
by spending less than hour day
make of them physically. |
am quack. and have no secrets or i'm
practical theories. What / have learned
has been the result of hard work. and will appeal
to any mans reason There is a man sweltering
in the sun. with 220 pounds carry, where he
ought not to have more than 175 pounds. A